Renewals and Fines Policy

Renewals

General Collection: Renewals are limited to two (2) per item

Children’s Collections: Renewals are limited to two (2) per item

Media: Renewals for Videos, DVD's, CDs and Audiobooks are limited to two (2) per item

New & Popular: Renewals for this collection are limited to one (1) per item

Fines

Overdue, Damage, and Replacement Charges

  1. Items that are not renewed or returned by the due date may be assessed a replacement charge once they are 14 days overdue.
  2. The charge will include:
    1. The replacement cost of the item
    2. A $15 non-refundable processing fee for each item
  3. If the item is returned within 29 days of the billing date, the replacement charge will be removed. The $15 processing fee will remain and is non-refundable.
  4. If the item remains unreturned, the charge will be transferred to the student's account with the Cashier's Office 30 days after the initial billing date (when the item is approximately 45 days overdue). Once transferred, payment must be made through the Cashier's Office, not the library.
  5. If the item is returned within 60 days of the transfer to the Cashier's Office, the replacement charge will be credited to the student's account. The $15 non-refundable processing fee will remain.
  6. Charges that have remained on a student's account with the Cashier's Office for more than 60 days after transfer are no longer eligible for adjustment. Returning the item will not result in a credit or waiver of the replacement charge.
     

UNCW students will have their library borrowing privileges blocked when:

  • Their debt for UNCW Library materials exceeds $100.00
  • Their debt for borrowing from UNC system libraries or interlibrary loan transactions exceeds $50.00.
  • Only charges that are transferred to the Cashier’s Office will place a block registration and must be paid at the Cashier’s Office before you will be allowed to register for the following semester, to graduate, or to receive transcripts.
  • Payment for library fines or fees that have NOT been transferred to the Cashier’s Office may be made by personal check (made out to UNCW), cash (exact change only), or by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover at the Library Help Desk in Randall Hall during operating hours.

Course Reserve Materials 

  • Reserve materials are subject to fines since these items are high demand, high turnaround and need to circulate to all persons enrolled in the specific course. Reserve fines are as follows: 
  • Hourly checkouts - $.50 per item, per hour up to a maximum of $30 per item. If overdue five (5) days or longer, the replacement cost and a $15 non-refundable overdue fee is assessed for each item overdue. 
  • Daily checkouts - $5 per item, per day. If overdue five (5) days or longer, the replacement cost and a $15 non-refundable overdue fee is assessed for each item overdue. 

Calculators

  • Calculators check out for 24 hours
  • The replacement charge for lost calculators is $120 and a non-refundable overdue fee of $15. 

 

Questions about using the library? Please contact us. Questions about this policy may be sent to rlcirculation@uncw.edu.

Reviewed June 2026.